Art has existed for as long as civilization. For centuries, it was restricted to galleries and museums; then, in the twentieth century, artistic expression spilled onto the streets. Now, Brisbane residents can expect to find works of art at their local park.
The
Kangaroo Point Park is located on a 9 828 square metre section of land on the
banks of the Brisbane River; the site formerly housed the Kangaroo Points TAFE campus. This massive area is now a public park that offers views of the river and the CBD, not to mention a pedestrian loop, barbeque and picnic areas, viewing platforms and play spaces.
But it is not just a recreational space. The park's development was funded by
artplace Queensland Government Public Art Fund, a state government initiative that combines Brisbane's buildings and parks with artistic ornamentation. Kangaroo Point Park is a sort of outdoors gallery that commissions works of art for public display. Current installations include Venus Rising, an abstract metal spire, and Wormholes 2010, an interactive, multimedia sculpture. Artplace will continue to commission temporary and permanent sculpture for the park.
Cliffs Cafe, situated on the Kangaroo Point cliffs, offers park-goers a range of meals and snacks and is open seven days a week from 7.00am until 5.00pm.
While there is much to enjoy here, a common complaint is the lack of shade. Be sure to bring a hat and plenty of sunscreen to ward off the UV rays.
